The European Commission (EC) has opened an unprecedented inquiry into whether new Polish laws break EU democracy rules.

EC Vice President Frans Timmermans announced a "preliminary assessment" under the EU's "rule of law mechanism".

Critics of Poland's right-wing government have protested at changes to the constitutional court and media laws.

The EU mechanism allows the Commission to press a member state to change any measure considered a "systemic threat" to fundamental EU values.

The step comes after Polish president Andrzej Duda approved controversial laws enabling the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government to appoint the heads of public TV and radio and choose judges for Poland's constitutional court.

Addressing the Polish parliament yesterday, prime minister Beata Szydlo denied her government had violated democratic norms: "Democracy is alive and well in Poland," she insisted, adding that the government was carrying out a programme backed by Poles in the October general election that brought the PiS to power.

The Polish government has attempted to play down the significance of the EC's decision, saying it was "standard procedure".

Government spokesman Rafal Bochenek said the Commission had only discussed Poland because of "speculation" in Western Europe. He added the decision would have no negative impact on relations between Warsaw and Brussels.

Foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski said the EC had no right to evaluate changes to Poland's public media law and it had overlooked recent changes in the make-up of the constitutional court, which has decided to take in two judges nominated by the PiS party.

The prime minister told MPs she would defend Poland in a European Parliament debate next week and represent the whole of parliament and society.

Four channel directors at broadcaster TVP resigned earlier this month in protest at the new laws placing public radio and TV under a national media council, a change that gives the treasury minister the right to hire and fire management.

Most Poles watch or listen to the public TVP channels and one minister has accused news channel TVP Info of broadcasting propaganda for years.

Before the measures came into effect, another law was signed off requiring most rulings by Poland's 15-member constitutional court to have a two-thirds majority with at least 13 members present. The ruling party put forward five names to the court, which then appointed two as judges. Thousands of Poles have protested against the changes in recent weeks.